Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Spring Practice Position Breakdown: Offense
4/9/2013 4:38:00 PM | Football
With a strong returning core and a solid influx of young talent, the Troy football team is anxious to start the 2013 season looking to bring another Sun Belt title back to Troy. In the coming days, TroyTrojans.com will offer a positional breakdown of the Trojans as spring practice unfolds into the culmination of the T-Day Spring Game on April 20.
Today's installment will focus on the offense, where three starters return from last year's squad in Terrence Jones, Corey Robinson and Eric Thomas, plus key contributors from last year – Deon Anthony, Chandler Worthy, B.J. Chitty and Jimmy Arnold.
Quarterbacks
Corey Robinson returns at quarterback in 2013 for his senior season to help lead the explosive Troy offense that finished last year ranked 11th in the nation averaging 498.8 yards per game to go along with 30.6 points per contest.
Alongside Robinson is Deon Anthony who also returns for his senior season after having a breakout year in 2012 as part of Troy's strong duo of quarterbacks. The New Iberia, La., native finished with 856 passing yards and nine touchdowns in 2012 and returns to the field this year as Troy's leading rusher with eight touchdown runs a year ago. Both Robinson and Anthony earned All-Sun Belt honors last season; Robinson as a quarterback and Anthony as an all-purpose player.
As spring practice comes to a close in the coming days, Troy's coaches have made it known that all attempts will be made for both Anthony and Robinson to be on the field together as much as possible.
“They're two of the best, if not the best, offensive players we have,” Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “Unfortunately, you can only play one quarterback at a time.”
Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said that you could see Anthony line up anywhere, including at quarterback, running back or even wide receiver.
“You've got to get the best guy (on the field) and he's one that can score running it and throwing too,” Blakeney said. “He's not a guy that we're looking to run it 25 times a game, but you can sprinkle him in there and it can really make a difference.”
Behind Troy's dynamic duo are a few players who can step in if needed including Dallas Tidwell, Brandon Silvers and Kinderick Dent.
Wide Receivers
At the receiver position, just one starter returns from last year's group in Eric Thomas, an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention selection. Thomas finished the year ninth in the conference with 4.6 catches per game and eighth averaging 55.6 receiving yards per contest. Thomas, known for his spectacular catch potential, was featured on SportsCenter for his touchdown grab against Western Kentucky, and also hauled in two touchdowns on six receptions for 147 yards at Tennessee. He enters the year as the active leader in the Sun Belt with 17 career touchdown receptions.
Troy lost Chip Reeves (65 receptions for 1,050 yards in 2012) and Jaquon Robinson (30 catches for 405 yards) to graduation, but return a plethora of talent at the wide out position. Thomas, who played at the Z position last year, will move to the X with Felton Payton and Brett Thiesen competing for playing time behind him.
At the Z, B.J. Chitty, Bryan Holmes and Hakeem Haynie all return to compete for rotating time, as Chitty enters the season with 36 career catches.
Chris Williams moves to the H position and will compete with Brandon Brooks and A.J. Johnson. Brooks took a redshirt last season, while Johnson comes in as a transfer from Hutchinson Community College.
At the Y-receiver spot, Chandler Worthy, who hauled in 46 catches for 544 yards in 2012, joins K.D. Edenfield (six catches for 62 yards) and Trey Page for competition at the position.
Troy finished the 2012 season ranked eighth in the nation in passing offense, and with all of its depth plus incoming freshman, will look to defend that number again.
Offensive Line
It is often said that games are won in the trenches. In order for that to be the case, Troy must find some new anchors in 2013 to replace four players from 2012 who started in at least seven of Troy's 12 games.
Terrence Jones started in all 12 games he played in last season, and returns as the only true starter for this year's offensive line unit – a group last season that helped the Trojans accumulate more than 2,000 yards rushing and almost 4,000 yards passing.
First year offensive line coach Jim Dye said that so far through spring practice there's been a two-deep rotation for the guys.
“We're about two-deep. Everybody's getting snaps,” Dye said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “I've been really pleased all the way around.”
Troy lost tackle Jarred Fleming, guard Cody Woodiel and center Kyle Wilborn all to graduation, and will have to rely on some experienced guys, along with some new faces, to fill the voids. Of those names are Dalton Bennett, Tyler Lassiter, Antonio Garcia, Evan McKissack, Jimmie Arnold, Jonathan Boring and Chris Hawkins.
One of the most important positions on the line is the center, and McKissack, although listed at 5-foot-10, 255 pounds, has been no slouch thus far in the spring at the spot. Bennett, more of the standard offensive linemen at 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, enters the season with more experience and will continue to battle for time at the spot.
Other returners who have playing time include Hawkins, who played the first four games last year before suffering a season-ending injury, and Arnold, who started in three of his six games while also dealing with injury problems.
Running Backs
The running back department is by far Troy's most inexperienced group going through spring ball, as Shawn Southward, D.J. Taylor and Justin Albert all departed after their senior seasons.
However, with every hole comes potential for a young talent to step in and fill the gaps from last season. Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said the departure of star running backs doesn't change anything, it just means now that the younger guys have to step up to the plate and offer their performances on the field.
“Obviously, we come into each new season with a few wrinkles in our system, but overall we have to stick to our fundamental philosophy,” Edenfield said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “That's the word 'fundamental'. The main thing is getting guys enough snaps. We've got three guys going right now at the running back position, it's just one of those processes.”
Daron White got just three carries all of last season, but has been a primary target in the spring thus far, and will compete with multiple guys for time at the position.
Brandon Burks spent all of last year returning kicks, but looks to be a frontrunner at running back, while Khary Franklin will also compete for time.
Other names at running back include Brandon Knight, Michael Lindsey and Jared Lee.
Today's installment will focus on the offense, where three starters return from last year's squad in Terrence Jones, Corey Robinson and Eric Thomas, plus key contributors from last year – Deon Anthony, Chandler Worthy, B.J. Chitty and Jimmy Arnold.
Quarterbacks
Corey Robinson returns at quarterback in 2013 for his senior season to help lead the explosive Troy offense that finished last year ranked 11th in the nation averaging 498.8 yards per game to go along with 30.6 points per contest.
Alongside Robinson is Deon Anthony who also returns for his senior season after having a breakout year in 2012 as part of Troy's strong duo of quarterbacks. The New Iberia, La., native finished with 856 passing yards and nine touchdowns in 2012 and returns to the field this year as Troy's leading rusher with eight touchdown runs a year ago. Both Robinson and Anthony earned All-Sun Belt honors last season; Robinson as a quarterback and Anthony as an all-purpose player.
As spring practice comes to a close in the coming days, Troy's coaches have made it known that all attempts will be made for both Anthony and Robinson to be on the field together as much as possible.
“They're two of the best, if not the best, offensive players we have,” Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “Unfortunately, you can only play one quarterback at a time.”
Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said that you could see Anthony line up anywhere, including at quarterback, running back or even wide receiver.
“You've got to get the best guy (on the field) and he's one that can score running it and throwing too,” Blakeney said. “He's not a guy that we're looking to run it 25 times a game, but you can sprinkle him in there and it can really make a difference.”
Behind Troy's dynamic duo are a few players who can step in if needed including Dallas Tidwell, Brandon Silvers and Kinderick Dent.
Wide Receivers
At the receiver position, just one starter returns from last year's group in Eric Thomas, an All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention selection. Thomas finished the year ninth in the conference with 4.6 catches per game and eighth averaging 55.6 receiving yards per contest. Thomas, known for his spectacular catch potential, was featured on SportsCenter for his touchdown grab against Western Kentucky, and also hauled in two touchdowns on six receptions for 147 yards at Tennessee. He enters the year as the active leader in the Sun Belt with 17 career touchdown receptions.
Troy lost Chip Reeves (65 receptions for 1,050 yards in 2012) and Jaquon Robinson (30 catches for 405 yards) to graduation, but return a plethora of talent at the wide out position. Thomas, who played at the Z position last year, will move to the X with Felton Payton and Brett Thiesen competing for playing time behind him.
At the Z, B.J. Chitty, Bryan Holmes and Hakeem Haynie all return to compete for rotating time, as Chitty enters the season with 36 career catches.
Chris Williams moves to the H position and will compete with Brandon Brooks and A.J. Johnson. Brooks took a redshirt last season, while Johnson comes in as a transfer from Hutchinson Community College.
At the Y-receiver spot, Chandler Worthy, who hauled in 46 catches for 544 yards in 2012, joins K.D. Edenfield (six catches for 62 yards) and Trey Page for competition at the position.
Troy finished the 2012 season ranked eighth in the nation in passing offense, and with all of its depth plus incoming freshman, will look to defend that number again.
Offensive Line
It is often said that games are won in the trenches. In order for that to be the case, Troy must find some new anchors in 2013 to replace four players from 2012 who started in at least seven of Troy's 12 games.
Terrence Jones started in all 12 games he played in last season, and returns as the only true starter for this year's offensive line unit – a group last season that helped the Trojans accumulate more than 2,000 yards rushing and almost 4,000 yards passing.
First year offensive line coach Jim Dye said that so far through spring practice there's been a two-deep rotation for the guys.
“We're about two-deep. Everybody's getting snaps,” Dye said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “I've been really pleased all the way around.”
Troy lost tackle Jarred Fleming, guard Cody Woodiel and center Kyle Wilborn all to graduation, and will have to rely on some experienced guys, along with some new faces, to fill the voids. Of those names are Dalton Bennett, Tyler Lassiter, Antonio Garcia, Evan McKissack, Jimmie Arnold, Jonathan Boring and Chris Hawkins.
One of the most important positions on the line is the center, and McKissack, although listed at 5-foot-10, 255 pounds, has been no slouch thus far in the spring at the spot. Bennett, more of the standard offensive linemen at 6-foot-3, 293 pounds, enters the season with more experience and will continue to battle for time at the spot.
Other returners who have playing time include Hawkins, who played the first four games last year before suffering a season-ending injury, and Arnold, who started in three of his six games while also dealing with injury problems.
Running Backs
The running back department is by far Troy's most inexperienced group going through spring ball, as Shawn Southward, D.J. Taylor and Justin Albert all departed after their senior seasons.
However, with every hole comes potential for a young talent to step in and fill the gaps from last season. Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield said the departure of star running backs doesn't change anything, it just means now that the younger guys have to step up to the plate and offer their performances on the field.
“Obviously, we come into each new season with a few wrinkles in our system, but overall we have to stick to our fundamental philosophy,” Edenfield said in an interview with the Dothan Eagle. “That's the word 'fundamental'. The main thing is getting guys enough snaps. We've got three guys going right now at the running back position, it's just one of those processes.”
Daron White got just three carries all of last season, but has been a primary target in the spring thus far, and will compete with multiple guys for time at the position.
Brandon Burks spent all of last year returning kicks, but looks to be a frontrunner at running back, while Khary Franklin will also compete for time.
Other names at running back include Brandon Knight, Michael Lindsey and Jared Lee.
Goose Crowder - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Donnie Smith - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - April 16
Thursday, April 16